diff --git a/.github/workflows/api-contracts.yml b/.github/workflows/api-contracts.yml
index ce7f801..1727f06 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/api-contracts.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/api-contracts.yml
@@ -74,13 +74,32 @@ jobs:
       - name: Start FastAPI backend
         run: |
           cd backend
-          python -m uvicorn app:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000 &
+          BACKEND_LOG="${{ github.workspace }}/backend.log"
+          
+          # Start backend with logging
+          python -m uvicorn app:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000 > "$BACKEND_LOG" 2>&1 &
+          BACKEND_PID=$!
+          echo "Backend started with PID: $BACKEND_PID"
+          
           # Wait for backend to be ready
           echo "Waiting for backend to start..."
-          sleep 15
-          # Verify backend is responding
-          curl --retry 5 --retry-delay 2 --retry-connrefused http://localhost:8000/health || exit 1
-          echo "Backend is ready!"
+          sleep 30
+          
+          # Check if process is still running
+          if ! ps -p $BACKEND_PID > /dev/null; then
+            echo "❌ Backend process died! Logs:"
+            cat "$BACKEND_LOG"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          
+          # Verify backend is responding with more retries
+          echo "Checking backend health..."
+          curl --retry 10 --retry-delay 3 --retry-connrefused http://localhost:8000/health || {
+            echo "❌ Backend health check failed! Logs:"
+            cat "$BACKEND_LOG"
+            exit 1
+          }
+          echo "✅ Backend is ready!"
         env:
           LINKEDIN_CLIENT_ID: test_client_id
           LINKEDIN_CLIENT_SECRET: test_client_secret